Connecticut governor blasts NCAA over tourney ban

By PAT EATON-ROBB -
Associated Press -
Thursday, April 5, 2012

STORRS, CONN. (AP) - Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy blasted the NCAA Thursday over a decision that likely will keep the University of Connecticut’s men’s basketball team out of the 2013 NCAA tournament.

UConn doesn’t qualify for the NCAA tournament because of below-standard academic results, but it requested a waiver earlier this year. The school argued it had instituted reforms that have led to improved scores. It is also seeking to have the NCAA use its more recent scores in determining eligibility.

Malloy told the Associated Press that he had stayed out of the fight until now, but finds this week’s NCAA’s decision to reject the waiver request “absolutely outrageous.”

“It’s as if they’ve decided to get UConn, one way or the other,” he said.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

The NCAA has turned down what the University of Connecticut says is its final appeal for a waiver of academic requirements, a pass that would give the Huskies a chance to participate in next year’s postseason tournament.

UConn doesn’t qualify for the NCAA tournament because of below-standard academic results, but it requested a waiver earlier this year. The school argued it had instituted reforms that have led to improved scores.

On Thursday, UConn said its appeal failed, though the school is still hoping to become eligible for postseason 2013 through another route.

“While we as a University and coaching staff clearly should have done a better job academically with our men’s basketball student-athletes in the past, the changes we have implemented have already had a significant impact and have helped us achieve the success we expect in the classroom,” basketball coach Jim Calhoun said in a statement. “We will continue to strive to maintain that success as we move forward.”

In seeking the waiver, the school had proposed alternate penalties, including playing a shorter schedule next season, forfeiting the revenue awarded to the Big East for participating in the 2013 tournament and barring Calhoun from meeting off-campus with prospective recruits during the fall 2012 contact period.

NCAA staff rejected the appeal in February, and its Committee of Academic Performance followed suit, and a third appeal was rejected for a third time by the committee’s vice chairman this week.

Under rules approved in October, a school must have a two-year average score of 930 or a four-year average of 900 on the NCAA’s annual Academic Progress Rate, which measures the academic performance of student athletes.

Connecticut’s men’s basketball scored 826 for the 2009-10 school year. UConn’s score for the 2010-11 school year was 978.

That would not be high enough. It would give Connecticut a two-year score of 902 and a four-year score of below 890.

Nonetheless, there is still a chance UConn could be part of March Madness in 2013.